Beyond Silos: Powering Food Systems with Off-Grid Solar
How off-grid solar can help to develop Sub-Saharan Africa's agriculture, boosting productivity and ensuring food security.
Efficiency for Access is proud to co-author a white paper in collaboration with a range of partners, including GOGLA, exploring the critical nexus between food systems, infrastructure, and off-grid solar (OGS) energy. Supported by the IKEA Foundation, this publication underscores the transformative potential of OGS in enhancing agricultural productivity and economic outcomes across Africa.
The white paper highlights how off-grid solar technology can help power various food system processes, from irrigation to food processing, thereby addressing the energy gap that limits productivity for many smallholder farmers. Agriculture accounts for 30% of global energy consumption, and the infrastructure powering food systems accounts for at least 15% of global fossil fuel use.
By advocating for greater collaboration between the off-grid solar and agriculture sectors, the paper is helping to promote mutual understanding of priorities and challenges. By aligning efforts, we can help accelerate innovation, strengthen food security, and make agriculture more climate-resilient.
Key takeaways include the need for integrated approaches to maximise impact on food security and the role of off-grid solar in achieving Africa’s goal of increasing agri-food output by 50% by 2035.
Read the full white paper to learn more about the intertwined nature of energy use, efficiency, sustainability, and productivity of food systems in Africa.
Beyond Silos: Strengthening Nexus Collaboration to Power Food Systems with Off-Grid Solar